BAY CITY, MI — The Mount Pleasant man charged federally with killing a 4-year-old boy has a day to decide whether or not he’ll take a plea.

U.S. District Magistrate Judge Charles E. Binder is to preside over a plea hearing for Anthony M. Bennett at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 21, at the federal courthouse in downtown Bay City. Bennett, a member of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe who turned 21 on Monday, March 11, is charged with seven counts — first-degree murder, assault resulting in substantial bodily injury, assault within special maritime or territorial jurisdiction, assault with a dangerous weapon, animal cruelty and two counts of tampering with a witness, victim or informant.

The hearing does not mean Bennett is entering a guilty or contest plea, just that it is the last possible day for him to enter such a plea before the case goes to trial. The Times has been unable to contact federal prosecutors or defense attorney Anthony T. Chambers to determine the likelihood of Bennett entering a plea or if a plea offer has been made.

If no plea agreement is reached, the case is to proceed to jury trial before U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Ludington on Tuesday, April 23.

Investigators have said Bennett on June 21 was baby-sitting Carnel Chamberlain, the son of his live-in girlfriend Jamiee Chamberlain. Carnel disappeared that day and authorities on June 28 discovered his charred remains under the porch of his family home at 7340 E. Tomah Road in Mount Pleasant.

Bennett is also charged in Bay County Circuit Court with two counts each of assaulting a prison employee and assaulting, resisting or obstructing police and one count of malicious destruction of a building between $200 and $1,000. While housed at the Bay County Jail, Bennett on the morning of Aug. 24 was reportedly arguing with another inmate. When a corrections officer attempted to quell the dispute, Bennett swung around and punched him three times, court records show.

The other inmate came to the officer’s aid in pulling Bennett away. When the officer regained his footing, he locked Bennett in a cell, but the unruly inmate then proceeded to kick a glass window, court records show.

An extraction team was called in to remove Bennett from the cell and place him in a different part of the jail. When they opened the cell door, Bennett had fresh superficial cuts on his arms, though no weapon was recovered, court records show.

Bennett is scheduled to face trial before Circuit Judge Joseph K. Sheeran on April 2, though Bay County Prosecutor Kurt C. Asbury previously said he expects the federal trial to convene first.

If Bennett is convicted of the federal charge of first-degree murder, he could face the death penalty.

Jaimee Chamberlain in December appeared in Emmet County District Court and pleaded guilty to possessing marijuana. In exchange, prosecutors dismissed three felony drug charges.